MARYLAND OPERATION LIFESAVER

SAFETY TIPS

Safety is a #1 concern not only on the railroads but in life.  Staying safe around railroad tracks is your responsibility.

Trains are BIG!  Most people don't take into account that trains are extremely heavy and can not stop like an automobile.  An automobile moving 60 mph can stop in about 200 feet, a train however going the same 60 mph may take over 2 miles to get stopped. 

Going around lowered gates or through flashing lights and bells, or even failing to look both ways before crossing any grade crossing could cost you your life and the lives of others. 

Grade crossings come in many forms:

Active crossings have lights or bells or gates or any combination of those, they tell you automatically when a train is coming and they mean STOP!

Passive  crossings don't have lights, gates, or bells.  They just have an "X" or crossbuck that says RAILROAD CROSSING.  They mean:

You MUST yield when you see a passive crossing as it will NOT tell you when a train is coming.  YIELD to the train and STOP if you see a headlight or hear the horn and bells of a train.

REMEMBER...ANYTIME IS TRAIN TIME!!